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Why visit Ruidoso
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 15 parks and trails, 33 places to eat, 15 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Sierra Cinema, Dude Mesa, Ruidoso River Museum and New Mexico Military Institute Summer Camp, Main Building.
June is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 21°F, and about 26 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Ruidoso
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Ruidoso
Ruidoso (Spanish for "noisy") is a village in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, adjacent to the Lincoln National Forest. The population was 7,679 at the 2020 census. The city of Ruidoso Downs and the unincorporated area of Alto are suburbs of Ruidoso, and contribute to the Ruidoso Micropolitan Statistical Area's population of 21,223.
From the Wikipedia article Ruidoso, New Mexico (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do5
Olive Oil Shops
Farm and orchard · 1.3 mi
2722 Sudderth Drive, Ruidoso
Museums and landmarks7
New Mexico Military Institute Summer Camp, Main Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Military building in Lincoln County, New Mexico
Old Dowlin Mill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Watermill and grinding mill in Ruidoso, New Mexico
Ruidoso Lookout Tower
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Fire lookout tower in Lincoln County, United States of America
Parks, trails and playgrounds15
3 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes33
Sacred Grounds Coffee
Cafe · 1.3 mi
2825 Sudderth Drive
Su 08:00-16:00; Mo-We 06:30-17:00; Th-Sa 06:30-20:00
El Camino Nuevo
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.4 mi
1025 Mechem Drive
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Olé Tacos
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.7 mi
319 Sudderth Drive
Su-Sa 11:00-23:00
The Quarters
Bar and pub · 1.3 mi
2535 Sudderth Drive
Mo-Sa 11:00-02:00, Su 12:00-24:00
21 more on the map.
History
Along the eastern foothills of White Mountain, retired army Captain Paul Dowlin built Dowlin’s Mill where the Carrizo Creek and Rio Ruidoso merge. He had served at nearby Fort Stanton. The Mill was also a general store, dance hall, and moonshine supply.
San Patricio, New Mexico (in the Hondo Valley) was originally known as Ruidoso. In 1875, its name was changed in honor of a Catholic priest’s patron saint. Early Hispanos used the term “Ruidoso” to describe a noisy creek. Today’s Ruidoso grew up around Dowlin’s Mill. Will Dowlin survived his brother, after an employee shot Captain Paul dead.
By 1885, with a general store, blacksmith, post office, cabins along the Rio Ruidoso, and proximity to the Chisholm Trail Ruidoso, NM was born.
The Wingfield family operated a dairy and early post office. By 1914, cabins were being built in Upper Canyon. At Cedar Creek in 1935, a ski area opened on a sloping meadow.
On July 16, 1945, the Trinity Test could be felt by local people like an explosion.
By 1947, a race track was opened at Hollywood Park. Visitors played golf in the Gateway area. Finally, in 1963 the Mescalero Apaches purchased the ski area now known as Ski Apache.
From the History section of Ruidoso, New Mexico on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay15
Churches and places of worship8
First Christian Church
Church · Disciples Of Christ · 2.0 mi
1211 Hull Road, Ruidoso
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 0.8 mi
1091 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso
Shopping8
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries13
Healthcare2
Map of Ruidoso
111 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 21°F | 1.1 in | 7.9 in |
| Feb | 51°F | 23°F | 1.0 in | 5.5 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 27°F | 0.9 in | 2.2 in |
| Apr | 65°F | 33°F | 0.7 in | 0.6 in |
| May | 73°F | 40°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 47°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 51°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 78°F | 50°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 44°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 35°F | 1.7 in | 1.0 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 26°F | 0.8 in | 1.8 in |
| Dec | 48°F | 22°F | 1.5 in | 7.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ruidoso (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lincoln County has had 29 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2025-07-22: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides (Flood)
- 2025-07-10: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides (Flood)
- 2024-06-20: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding (Fire)
- 2024-06-18: Salt Fire (Fire)
- 2024-06-17: South Fork Fire (Fire)
- 2024-05-26: Blue 2 Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Sierra Blanca Regional Airport (RUI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Ruidoso Downs 4 mi east, about 7 min by car
- Capitan 14 mi north, about 22 min by car
- Mescalero 17 mi southwest, about 27 min by car
- Carrizozo 23 mi northwest, about 36 min by car
- Tularosa 28 mi southwest, about 45 min by car
- High Rolls 30 mi south, about 48 min by car
- La Luz 30 mi southwest, about 49 min by car
- Alamogordo 36 mi southwest, about 59 min by car
- Boles Acres 41 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Holloman AFB 43 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- DowntownRuidosoNM, Unknown author, Public domain
- Ruidoso New Mexico Village Hall, AllenS, Public domain
- Greetings from Ruidoso, New Mexico - Large Letter Postcard (5348434451), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Ruidoso, Gdomoniqua, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bridge Out in Ruidoso - panoramio, Kantiki, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greetings from Ruidoso, New Mexico - Large Letter Postcard (5290360846), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Autumn in Spring, Olivia Danielle Ruiz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Above the River, Olivia Danielle Ruiz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaves and Needles, Olivia Danielle Ruiz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hordeum jubatum plant (16), CK Kelly, CC BY 4.0
- Hordeum jubatum plant (17), CK Kelly, CC BY 4.0
- Kids Konnection Playground (3442545172), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ollie's Tentacles (3479196422), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Blue Spruce RV Park (3168243537), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Idle Hour Lodge (3176322926), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Dreamcatcher Cafe - Midtown (49761500483), Jonathan Cutrer from San Angelo, Texas, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Capitan Tiger (10116213616), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- AspenFest 2012 (8061394411), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bread Sticks at Cafe Rio 03.31.09 (90), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ski Apache, William from Weslaco, TX, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- NM48, Arrow, Trailer (3211262001), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Alpine Lodge Vacancy (3347910461), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Vacancy (3348746598), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- October snow (4061058606), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- White Horse Hill (27942342580), Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0
- Argentina Spring (27607346873), Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0
- Bonito Valley with Nogal Peak (27607283154), Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0
- Tularosa Valley (27607237684), Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0
- Chef Lupe's Family Restaurant (3403702872), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Compensating for something (4987859744), uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Look (3329507901), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- OLD DOWLIN MILL 2012, MRobison, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nob Hill Lodge (3293786105), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Foggy road with snow (Unsplash), Kimberly Richards kimberlyrichards, CC0
- Front porch views this morning (49233066153), Jonathan Cutrer from San Angelo, Texas, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Front porch views this morning (49233530816), Jonathan Cutrer from San Angelo, Texas, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Front porch views this morning (49233755007), Jonathan Cutrer from San Angelo, Texas, United States, CC BY 2.0
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